Osteospermum plant named &#39;KLEOE11187&#39;

ABSTRACT

An  osteospermum  variety named ‘KLEOE11187’ particularly distinguished by bright yellow flower color and a very good branching habit is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Osteospermum ecklonis Norl.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘KLEOE11187’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of osteospermum, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis Norl., and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEOE11187’. The new variety originated from a controlled cross conducted in May 2008 in Nairobi, Kenya. The female parent was osteospermum plant named ‘m yellow’ (unpatented), and the male parent was osteospermum plant named ‘6 119’ (unpatented). A single plant selection was subsequently chosen for further evaluation and asexual propagation.

The new variety was first propagated via vegetative cuttings in May 2009 in Stuttgart, Germany and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings for three to four generations. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations via vegetative cuttings.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have not been applied for. ‘KLEOE11187’ has not been made publicly available or sold more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of the new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

1. Bright yellow flower color; and

2. Very good branching habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new osteospermum plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows the colors as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photograph was taken in spring 2011 on a 3-month old plant grown in a heated glass greenhousein Stuttgart, Germany, under conditions which approximate those generally used in normal horticultural practice.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEOE11187’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Stuttgart, Germany. The plant history was taken in spring 2011 on 3-month old plants grown in 12 centimeter pots. The plants were grown in a heated glass greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany and pinched once at approximately 16 weeks old. Color readings were taken under natural and artificial light. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), Fifth Edition (2007).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Asteraceae.         -   Botanical name.—Osteospermum ecklonis Norl.         -   Common name.—African daisy.         -   Denomination.—‘KLEOE11187’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Osteospermum plant named ‘m yellow’             (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Osteospermum plant named ‘6 119’ (unpatented). -   Plant:     -   -   Form and habit.—Herbaceous perennial, usually cultivated as             an annual.         -   Growth habit.—Upright.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching.         -   Height (from top of soil).—23.0 cm.         -   Width (including inflorescence).—17.0 cm.         -   Propagation.—Vegetative cuttings from tips.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—14 to 16 weeks.         -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—3 to 4 weeks.         -   Root description.—Freely rooting. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Arranged in a whorl.         -   Shape.—Dentiform.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Color.—Mature leaf: Upper surface: RHS 137D Lower surface:             RHS 137C Immature leaf: Upper surface: RHS 137B Lower             surface: RHS 137C.         -   Length.—5.8 cm.         -   Width.—3.3 cm.         -   Texture.—Leathery.         -   Petioles.—Absent. -   Stems:     -   -   Total number of branches.—6 to 8.         -   Length.—15.0 cm to 16.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.4 cm.         -   Internode length.—1.2 cm to 1.6 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 137D.         -   Texture.—Rough. -   Inflorescence buds:     -   -   Shape.—Obovate.         -   Length.—1.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.9 cm.         -   Color (at tight bud just before the ray florets unfold).—RHS             138A. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type.—Single.         -   Blooming habit.—Spring to autumn.         -   Quantity of inflorescences per plant.—10 to 12.         -   Lastingness of the inflorescences on the plant.—10 to 11             days.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—5.6 cm to 6.0 cm.         -   Disc diameter.—1.4 cm to 1.6 cm. -   Disc florets:     -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—90 to 110.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Tube color.—Closed: RHS 9B Mature: RHS 8A.         -   Length.—0.7 cm.         -   Diameter (at apex).—0.1 cm.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Apex color.—RHS 12A.         -   Base.—Fused to form a tube.         -   Margin.—Entire. -   Ray florets:     -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—22.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 9A Lower surface: RHS 1A with             longitudinal stripes of RHS 165A.         -   Length.—2.0 cm to 2.3 cm.         -   Width.—0.8 cm to 1.2 cm.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—5.0 cm to 10.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Texture.—Rough.         -   Color.—RHS 137D. -   Phyllaries:     -   -   Arrangement.—Single.         -   Observed quantity per inflorescence.—Approximately 21.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 137A Lower surface: RHS 137D.         -   Length.—1.1 cm.         -   Width.—0.15 cm.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Rough. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Location: Base of the disc floret corolla             Stamens: Quantity: 90 to 100 Shape: Filamentous Color: RHS             202A Filament length: 0.55 cm Filament diameter: 0.05 cm             Anther: Shape: Elliptical Color: RHS 200A Length: 0.7 cm             Diameter: 0.1 cm Pollen: Color: RHS 14A Amount: Abundant.         -   Gynoecium.—Location: Base of the ray florets; stigmas in             disc florets are degenerated and non-functional Pistils:             Quantity: 22 Length: 0.41 cm Diameter: 0.05 cm Stigma:             Color: RHS N199A Shape: Bipartite Length: 0.18 cm Diameter:             0.05 cm Style: Color: RHS 8C Length: 0.22 cm Diameter: 0.05             cm Shape: Filamentous. -   Fruit and seed set: Seed set was observed     -   -   Seed.—Length: Approximately 0.6 cm Width: Approximately 0.3             cm Weight: Approximately 0.01 g Color: RHS N199A Quantity             per capsule: 25. -   Disease and insect/pest resistance: No specific observations were     made. -   Comparison with parental varieties: ‘KLEOE11187’ differs from the     female parental osteospermum plant ‘m yellow’ (unpatented) in that     the upper surface color of the ray florets of ‘KLEOE11187’ is bright     yellow (RHS 9A), whereas the upper surface color of the ray florets     of ‘m yellow’ is yellow (RHS 11A) with a light yellow center color     (RHS 11C). ‘KLEOE11187’ differs from the male parental osteospermum     plant ‘6 119’ (unpatented) in that ‘KLEOE11187’ has a very good     branching habit, whereas ‘6 119’ has a medium branching habit. 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of osteospermum plant named ‘KLEOE11187’ as shown and described herein. 